10 New Features of the Fujifilm X-M5 – and Some Coming to X-T5 & Co via Firmware

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The Fujifilm X-M5 has just been launched.

And quite surprisingly for being the most affordable MILC camera of Fujifilm, it comes packed with a bunch of new features that even Fujifilm’s highest end cameras don’t have.

Some of those features will come via firmware update to other models for sure, some we can hope for, but others are hardware features available only on the Fujifilm X-M5 so far.

So let’s quickly run thorugh them:

  1. Manual Focus range customization
    You can set the rotation reach from 60 up to 900 degree individually for each lens. This will come via firwmare to other models. – see screeshot here from this video
  2. New Menu Interface in Vlog Mode
    Vlog mode has now a new interface (with more options and new features) that makes it easier to use – see screenshot here. There is also a zoom slider on the LCD – see screenshot here taken from this video
  3. Three micorphones
    the X-M5 is equipped with three microphones, allowing you to choose between capturing sound from all directions or focusing on either the front or rear mic, depending on your needs. Alternatively, you can use both the front and rear mics simultaneously, which is perfect for interviews where you want to record audio from both the person filming behind the camera and the person in front
  4. 4K LG (Long Play)
    4K with 1.18x crop for longer record times
  5. Vertical Recording Mode
    It’s there, it’s new. You can film Full HD with it. The advantage is that you do not need to flip your camera to record vertically, hence it is more comfortable to hold in your hands when filming
  6. Cable Connection with X App
    connect camera via cable to phone for fast transfer of files larger than 4GB to X App
  7. Recording Timer
    Set a timer (30 / 60 seconds) and then record vertical video
  8. Bit Rates Expansion
    New lower bit rates offered such as 25 mbps or even 8 mbps to generate smaller files
  9. Green Frame
    when you record video in slow motion mode, the recording frame turns green (instead of red). This helps to avoid to erroneously record in slow motion – see screenshot here from this video
  10. Steady-State Noise Reduction
    steady-state noise reduction function reduces noise that continues to sound at a certain frequency, such as the noise from an air conditioner.
  11. New portrait enhance mode
    you can set it from strong to weak. Not completely new, as it was available on older Xacti cameras like X-T200 and X-A7

BONUS 1

  • USB-C Powering even with empty battery
    I’m not entirely certain about this, but maybe you can help me out. The X-M5 can be powered via USB-C, as seen on other cameras, but it seems it can continue to operate even when the battery is completely drained. Normally, when the battery is empty, you have to wait for it to charge a bit before the camera can run on USB-C power again. The original concept was that if the power cable was accidentally unplugged, the battery would still have enough charge to keep the camera running and save your files. However, with the X-M5, it seems that’s no longer necessary—if powered via USB-C, the camera will keep running continuously, even with a fully drained battery. But on the other hand, if you are for example in an live talk online and you use the X-M5 as webcam, you prefer to have the camera running even without battery rather than switching off

BONUS 2

  • Good Bye Black Box
    We are used to get our X gear shipped in black boxes. Well, that’s no longer the case with the X-M5, which will come in brown boxes (see here the screenshot taken from this video). I wonder if that’s the new color for all Fujifilm X gear going foward

FIRMWARE BONUS

  • Aperture switch
    That’s a feature of the Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 II and allows for smooth brightness transition when adjusting aperture. It works now already on X-M5 but a firmware update will come to make it work with other cameras – quick example in this video

Anything else that you noticed? Feel free to let us know in the comments.

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